Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Transportation Committee

HB 2774

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Changes the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium temporary authorization to a permanent authorization for manufacturers of motor vehicles or their authorized agents to receive lists of registered and legal owners for research activities and producing statistical reports.
Updates the federal codes applicable to motor vehicle manufacturers to enable the manufacturers to carry out the provisions required by those federal regulations.
Provides a list of entities that may be furnished a list by the Department of Licensing (DOL).
Requires that by January 1, 2015, the DOL must develop a method to identify personal information released to manufacturers of motor vehicles or their authorized agents, by the recipient of the information and the date released, and the DOL must use that method to actively track, monitor, and investigate the use of personal information.

Background:

The Department of Licensing (DOL) may furnish lists of registered and legal owners of motor vehicles only for the following purposes to:

manufacturers of motor vehicles, or their authorized agents, to be used for: (1) carrying out the provisions of the 1966 National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act for safety-related defects in motor vehicles; and (2) research activities and statistical reports during fiscal year 2014, as long as the personal information is not published, redisclosed, or used to contact individuals. The DOL must charge an amount sufficient to cover the full cost of providing the data requested;
governmental agencies of the United States, Canada, or political subdivisions, to be used by authorized commercial agents or contractors in connection with the enforcement of motor vehicle or traffic laws by, or programs related to traffic safety of, that government agency;
commercial parking companies to notify owners of outstanding parking violations;
authorized agents or contractors of the DOL, to be used for motor vehicle excise tax, licensing, title, and registration information to motor vehicle dealers;
businesses regularly making loans to persons to finance the purchase of motor vehicles; and
companies or their agents operating toll facilities to identify toll violators.

Where both a mailing address and a residence address are recorded on the vehicle record, only the mailing address will be disclosed. Both addresses will be disclosed in response to requests from courts, law enforcement, or government entities with enforcement, investigative, or taxing authority and only for use in the normal course of conducting their business.

If a list of registered and legal owners of motor vehicles is used for any purpose other than what is authorized, the manufacturer, governmental agency, commercial parking company, authorized agent, contractor, financial institution, toll facility operator, or their authorized agents or contractors responsible for the unauthorized disclosure or use will be denied future access to that information by the DOL.

Summary of Bill:

The bill:

changes the 2011-2013 fiscal biennium temporary authorization to a permanent authorization for manufacturers of motor vehicles or their authorized agents to receive lists of registered and legal owners for research activities and producing statistical reports;

updates the federal codes applicable to motor vehicle manufacturers to enable the manufacturers to carry out the provisions required by those federal regulations;
provides a list of entities that may be furnished a list by the Department of Licensing (DOL); and
requires that by January 1, 2015, the DOL must develop a method to identify personal information released to manufacturers of motor vehicles or their authorized agents, by recipient of the information and date released, and the DOL must use that method to actively track, monitor, and investigate the use of personal information.